Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said there’s not one common thread among the 15 homicides the city has experienced in 2021. The chief said it ranges from activities people are involved in to personal altercations.
Weathers added gun violence is often not tied to group or gang involvement. “I think as a community we need to sit down and reflect on what it is we value most and we need to somehow get those values out there to the people who are perpetrating those crimes,” said Weathers.
Saying there are often lulls in gun violence, Weathers said it’s difficult to predict if homicides this year will surpass the record number of 34 set in 2020.
Asked for his reaction to the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, Chief Weathers said the arrest tactic used by Chauvin was, quote, “totally wrong,” unquote -- and the verdict was 100% appropriate.
Weathers said in rare instances there remains a place for no-knock warrants. According to the Lexington Herald, a group of black faith leaders is calling on the Mayor and City Council to respond by mid-May to their request for a ban on no-knocks. Chief Weathers noted he supports the state law on the police tactic, adding Lexington’s policy is more strict than the state statute. “So, even if you ban them totally, you’re still going to have your interaction and, in my opinion, you take away a tool that is primarily used to prevent loss of life or prevent injury. You take that away, I think you probably increase it,” Weathers explained.
Weathers said the police department has remained in communication with African American church leaders. Asked about police-community relations, the chief noted there’s still some friction, but he added part of that may stem from less interaction during coronavirus.
Police continue to ask community members to report conflicts which could lead to violence through the Crime Stoppers program.
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